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February 1, 2009

When I was in college, about ten years ago, I took a class that required a visit to the opera. Seeing as I rarely was given an opportunity to dress up I looked forward to the event all semester. I bought a floor length plum satin skirt and lavendar JCrew silk top. When the day finally came I was ready. We drove down to Baltimore and found our way to the entrance.

Alas, to my disappointment I found myself accompanied by spectators dressed in jeans and sweaters. There were also the usual Sunday best dresses but I was by far the more formal of our company.I guess I longed for the days when couples wore tuxedos and tiaras to ticketed events. I think part of me knew I'd be overdressed but I guess that part of me didn't care. I mean, why such apathy for the aesthetic?

This post is a tribute to those more ceremonious eras. But perhaps I'm not alone. Perhaps someone else out has their own floor length gown hanging in the back of their closet or arm length velvet gloves lying in the bottom of their drawer. Never to be worn again.

Let's be the ones to bring them back! It's not too late to be pretty:)The gloves themselves were surprisingly difficult to sew. When I first set out to make something I thought, oh I'll take it easy this week, I'll make a pair of gloves. Wrong!

They might have been easy had they not included these nasty little buggers called 'gussets'. What are gussets? Besides the unmentioned devices of torture in the ninth circle of hell? Well, they're the tiny inbetween pieces of fabric that so usually go unnoticed by every other glove wearer, including myself. That is until you have the unfortunate luck to have to use them in a sewing project.

Other than that the gloves were fairly easy. Not much cutting. Although I need to warn you that they are tight. And I don't mean in the 'too cool for school' sense but the 'my fingers are turning blue' sense. So if you have larger sized arms than me the gloves may not be for you.

They are made out of some sort of leather-like material. I'm not quite sure exactly what it is. But I can tell you that I bought it in the upholstery section and it doesn't have much elasticity.

HOWEVER, the cute little caplet may sway your vote. It is enclosed with an antique looking brass clasp.

The fur in both the gloves and the caplet are of course, faux. I did have the opportunity to purchase real fur but the price tag and animal rights issues held me back. The feathers however are real....and more humane. I was going for a sort of 30's Gatsby look. And if the winning blog leaves a comment it will be included in the giveaway. I would enter for that alone. They are the trendiest little accessories on etsy nowadays.

Oh and the shoes! Too cool huh? They were from my friend Abi's grandmother. Under the tongue, they say something about being handmade in Italy....and are like three sizes too small for my feet. I smashed my toes in them for the photo shoot but even that short amount of time left deep red gashes in my Achilles tendons. Still..worth it.

I'm not going to divulge where these photos were taken. It would just detract from the illusion. But I was a little disappointed when we arrived. There were other rooms that I had wanted to use that were roped off on Sunday. I had been hoping to get a photo sitting in a folding auditorium seat. Originally I had wanted Brian to accompany me in a tuxedo but that was just wishful thinking. I would have been more likely to win the Powerball.

But I have to give credit where credit is due. He did an amazing job with the photography. Especially considering the fact that it was the first time he used the new camera. I was far more hands off this time and I found the shoot to be far less stressful. I should use this philosophy in the rest of my life.

Last day for posts is Friday 2/13/09.Winnerwill be announced Sunday!

As usual, if you would like a chance to win these gloves and capletjust link back to this post. If you have any questions see the "questions and answers" link to the right. If you use blogger just use the "create a link" link at the bottom of this post. If you don't use blogger, that's fine too. Just create a link on your page as you normally would and I will see it using Technorati.

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OK. Kathleen. I have posted an entire blog about your giveaway. I have extremely skinny arms and tiny tiny hands, which will most assuredly fit in the opera gloves, whose snug-ness you have warned about.

I am completely crazy about the entire set you have crafted; the Great Gatsby is my FAVORITE book...and I would proudly wear everything you listed when I take my dear friend Bex to the ballet, Firebird, in March. I will post pictures so you can SEE how much your hard work is appreciated as we frolic about the Fox Theatre in Atlanta:)

I NEED to win this auction:P

You must understand.

I am going to cross every appendage I possess and pray for at least an hour on February 13.

I so understand the part where every now and then we need a little more 'Sense and Sensibility'... Girls like to dress up. But unfortunately nobody ever does anymore... and thus I sometimes choose to be overdressed. So be it.

Anyhow, I'd love to go for those gloves, but I have short, quite stubby fingers, so... alas.Next time better.

Your talent astounds me.It also makes me largely jealous as my last diy dress is still sitting on my dinner room table in pieces. Although the dress may be complete with such a pretty addition of gloves and caplet. Especially in the Northeastern cold.

By the way: How will we know if we are the "chosen one"? A personal message or comment I assume??

My friends and I went to the opera and dressed up and had the same experience. But we had fun dressing upo and we enjoyed the opera so oh well. Its the same thing whenever we go to the theater. Love the capelet and the feathers. And your hubby did a great job with the photos.

You remind me of Eliza Dolittle in these photo's! I love My Fair Lady. I will post about this but please don't include me in this drawing (I have large man hands ) plus I am holding out in hopes to win a dress for my girls. Have a happy week, love the photography.

I love these gloves. I hate that people are so casual about their dress now-a-days. Even for things that I dressed up for as a child, like going to see Santa or to a birthday party...now people just go as they are. I LOVE that you want to bring back the class.

Timely blog comment from you as I just attended the Phoenix Opera presentation of Aida this past Friday evening. Being new to the area I wasn't sure what the dress code would be, but have enough sense to know that dressy should be on tap. I wore a black suit and dressed it up with blingy broach and jewelry and a black satin camy. My daughter is very involved with this opera company and warned me we would see everything under the sun. She was right, but I was really pleased to see more "dressy" than casual. Saw some goregous formals too. It always serves you better to be appropriately dressed than not! Frist imrpessions really do count for something.

Oh Kathleen. Indeed I do have that floor length formal reserved for the ballet and opera. Not unlike you, I am always overdressed and find that so sad. But like you, I don't care! If it pleases me to live in bygone era, than I shall!I'm sure the gloves would fit fine being a teeny mama and I would be most honored to don them.

Oh.my.word.If this isn't the loveliest outfit I've ever seen.I want to wear that headband in my wedding! Until this moment I was anti wearing anything on my head...but you have just convinced me!You are so talented!

I get so excited when you giveaway something for us big girls! I love the whole set, especially the gloves and feathers! Not only would they be great to wear during a night on the town, but they'd make beautiful additions to any murder mystery or Halloween costume. I added a post to my blog: http://marriedtothemd.blogspot.com

I couldn't agree more about never having the opportunity to dress up anymore. I was just talking to my husband about the fact that dressing nice for occasions is a way of showing respect. I love jeans as much as the next gal, but I'm so tired of going out to nice restaurants, baby showers, and weddings for that matter, where people are dressed like they're going to a football game. Sigh.

Love the hat, by the way, and I would certainly have to find somewhere to wear it.

I really like the capelet and the gloves, but the star of the show is definitely the hair accessory of loveliness. You always do stunning work, but this has brought me out of lurkerdom. I don't suppose you could get your girlfriend to throw in Grandmas shoes, too?

OMG! The ensemble is gorgeous! I love the fur topped gloves! The caplets is awesome! And the feathered headband....WOW-WIE!!!!!!!Even the blouse you wore, and the jewelry...the whole outfit placed you perfectly in the 1930's and I absolutely love it!

And I would enter to win, just the headband alone...love feathers and I love it!